Terminal shield for electric storage batteries



Aug. 25, 1936. G. E. CAMPBELL TERMINAL SHIELD FOR ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Dec. '7, 1954 IfZi/GflfOV Geo ye E. Campbell Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TERMINAL SHIELD FOR ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERIES 1 Claim.

My invention is an improved battery terminal shield for the protection of the terminal connections on electric storage batteries. It is well known, that most of the trouble encountered in the use of storage batteries, is the destructive corrosion action which takes place at the battery terminal connections. This corrosion is started by the acid spray from the battery attacking the metal battery terminal and connector attached thereto, and forming deposits of lead and copper sulphates thereon. The corrosion eventually destroys the terminal and more often the terminal connectors and it also hampers the removal of terminal connector when disconnecting the battery. Grease and other corrosion preventatives have heretofore been applied to terminal connections, but have proved ineffective because the grease usually melts and runs off the said terminal connections permitting corrosion to begin.

I have overcome these difficulties satisfactorily with my novel invention, the main object of which is to provide a means for shielding the terminal connections from acid spray thereby preventing the corrosion of the said terminal connections.

A second object of my invention is to provide a means for retaining a packing of grease on and around the battery terminal connections.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a flexible grease receptacle of a resilient material around a battery connection, the walls of which can be flexed Out of the way to permit the free use of a tool to loosen or tighten the terminal connector; to provide a grease receptacle to be attached to a terminal connector and which will fit over a battery terminal in the same manner as the said terminal connector; to provide an in sulating means around a battery terminal connection to prevent short circuits; numerous other objectswill be shown and described further in this specification.

An illustrative embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a battery showing my novel terminal shield in position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the terminal shield.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of my device in a modified form.

My device is constructed of a resilient material such as rubber and is molded as a single unit, and of sufficient thickness to form a semi-rigid receptacle. Suitable apertures in the side wall and base are provided for the terminal connector and the battery terminal.

As shown in the accompanying drawing the improved battery terminal shield is generally designated by reference numeral l. The terminal receptacle l comprises a base 2 and the upright wall 3. The side wall 3 has an aperture 4, through which the shank 6 of-the terminal connector 8 is passed. A second aperture 5 is provided in the base 2 corresponding to the diameter of the battery terminal I of the battery 9.

The receptacle 1 is first attached to the terminal connector 8 by slipping the cable H and shank 6 through the aperture 4 in the side wall 3 from the inner side; then the receptacle 1! and the terminal connector 8 is fitted onto the terminal I of the battery, the terminal 1 passing through the aperture 5 provided in the base 2 of the said receptacle. The resilient side wall 3 is flexed backward to allow room enough to use a tool in tightening the nut l2 on the bolt I3.

The side wall returns to its normal position when released, and suitable grease is then packed in the receptacle l around the terminal connection; the apertures and 5 are small enough so that the wall 3 and base 2 make a snug fit around the shank 6 and terminal 1 respectively, thereby preventing little, if any, grease leakage.

In the modified form shown in Figure 4, the receptacle I4 is first fitted over the terminal I of the battery. Then the terminal connector 8 is fitted onto the terminal 1, the shank 6 spreading the slit I5 until it lies in the cut out portion IS in the wall of the receptacle I l. The cover l1, an integral part of the said receptacle M, can be folded down and the front lip l8 hooked onto the shank 6 of the connector 8 by means of the notched aperture l9.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described it will be understood that numerous details may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A substantially rectangular receptacle formed of resilient material comprising a bottom wall having an opening therein, side walls, one of said side walls having a perforation therein, said per.- foration being extended upwardly in slot formation to the upper edge of said side wall, and a cover extension formed integrally on the side wall opposite said perforated side wall, said cover having a perforated depending wall, the perforation in said depending wall being adapted to align with the perforation in said side wall when said cover is arranged in closed position and having a slot extension to the lower edge of said depending wall.

GEORGE E. CAMPBELL. 

